IB92J - Technological Innovation and Change

Module content and teaching

Principal aims

Recent studies suggest that disruptive innovations and hypercompetitive markets have eroded competitive advantage for many commercial firms. Examples vary from the well-known story of Apple’s Mackintosh as the dominant product in the PC industry in the early 80s to Dell’s leadership since mid 90s, through process innovations supported by flexible manufacturing systems. Technological innovations have played a major role in establishing, maintaining and eroding such competitive advantages across the global economy (see Apple’s iPhone lead). Nonetheless, it has also been established that relying on new technologies and innovations, such as the Internet, as a source of competitiveness will not suffice. Commercial firms require to harness and integrate new technological innovations into their competition strategy at the firm and industry level. For example, firm may improve the perceived value delivered to customers through service technology (firm level) or create conditions to lock in customers and lock out competitors through the establishment of a standard (industry level). Through the analysis of several case studies of companies that were either successful or unsuccessful in their technological innovation endeavours, this module examines the links between technological innovations and competitive advantage. A particular attention will be given to the management of technological innovations and change for competitive advantage

Principal learning outcomes

Subject Knowledge and Understanding: To acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of strategic management and technological innovation concepts, such as product and process innovations; To understand the role of standardisation of technology in open and proprietary innovation; To acquire knowledge and understanding of strategies that link radical and incremental technological innovations to competitive advantage; To understand the concepts of open source and open innovation. Key Skills: To be able to plan and execute a strategy that introduces a new technology-based, product or process that creates a new trajectory of performance at the firm and industry level. Subject Specific/Professional Skills: To acquire a knowledge of strategy and technological innovations management models/frameworks and business terminology.